Fire restrictions will be lifted across the Macedon Ranges and Hume on Monday, signalling the end of a long and dramatic bushfire season.
But the CFA has warned that while residents will again be allowed to conduct burn-offs on their properties, relatively dry conditions meant the bushfire threat will remain real, particularly on windy days.
Mountain group CFA spokesman Mike Dornau said although significant damage had been caused by major blazes near Lancefield and Edgecombe, things ‘‘absolutely’’ could have been worse this summer, with low rainfall, dry grass and plenty of forest fuel.
But he said residents should avoid the temptation to light burn-offs ‘‘just because they can’’.
‘‘Last year, the restrictions were lifted in March and immediately, we were called to a string of burn-offs that got out of control,’’ Mr Dornau said.
FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE EMBERS DURING THE COBAW FIRE.
‘‘People need to remain wary of conditions and make sure they have the right equipment, including plenty of water nearby.
‘‘Out in the Cobaw Ranges and Wombat Forest especially… it’s still pretty dry.
‘‘We haven’t had a lot of rain, really.’’
The 2015-16 fire season’s biggest blaze actually came before it officially began.
A 266-hectare planned burn ignited in the Cobaw Ranges near Lancefield broke containment lines on October 3 and again on October 6. Close to 3000 hectares were eventually burnt.
Four houses, 25 sheds and dozens of kilometres of fencing were destroyed.
An independent inquiry handed down in November found the burn had been “inadequately resourced” from the start.
In January, Sunbury man, Stuart Dean Robson, 47, faced 13 charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court relating to fires lit in the area on December 25, 28 and 29.
Police alleged that Robson lit a Christmas Day fire that burned through 100 hectares of grassland, moving quickly as it was fanned by winds of more than 55km/h.
A FIREFIGHTER WALKS THROUGH A BURNED FOREST DURNG THE NEW YEAR EDGECOMBE FIRE. PICTURE: DARREN HOWE
Five firefighting aircraft and 65 CFA vehicles were used to battle the blaze.
Also in January, a 100-hectare fire near Edgecombe destroyed a house attached to a vineyard and is believed to have been deliberately lit.
In February, a man charged over the alleged sabotage of a railway siding in Hurstbridge was also charged in relation to four grass fires lit near Taradale and Malmsbury in December last year.
Remain vigilant
CFA district 2 operations manager Steve Smith said landholders should be sure to follow basic rules once restrictions were lifted, remaining wary of weather conditions and local council laws.
“We are telling people to do the right thing by checking conditions and registering their burn-offs,” he said.
“Every year brigades get more and more frustrated at the number of false alarm calls they have to respond to as a result of people not doing the right thing.’’
Register burn-offs by calling 1800 668 511
